TRANSFORMATION

                     EARLY LITERARY EXPERIMENTS 
 
 
                             TRANSFORMATION 
 
               Mine eyes are so confused, 
                   My cheek it is so pale, 
               My head is so bemused, 
                   A realm of fairy-tale. 
 
               I wanted, boldly daring, 
                   Sea-going ways to follow, 
               Where a thousand crags rise soaring, 
                   And Floods flow bleak and hollow. 
            
               I clung to Thought high-soaring, 
                   On its two wings did ride, 
               And though storm winds were roaring, 
                   All danger I defied. 
 
               I did not falter there, 
                   But ever on did press 
               With the wild eagle's stare 
                   On journeys limitless. 
 
               And though the Siren spins 
                   Her music so endearing 
               Whereby the heart she wins -- 
                   I gave that sound no hearing. 
            
               I turned away mine ear 
                   From the sweet sounds I heard, 
               My bosom did aspire 
                   To a loftier reward. 
 
               Alas, the waves sped on, 
                   At rest they would not be; 
               There swept by many a one 
                   Too swift for me to see. 
 
               With magic power and word 
                   I cast what spells I knew, 
               But forth the waves still roared, 
                   Till they were gone from view. 
 
               And by the Flood sore pressed, 
                   And dizzy at the sight, 
               I tumbled from that host 
                   Into the misty night. 
 
               And when I rose again 
                   From fruitless toil at last, 
               My powers all were gone, 
                   And all the heart's glow lost 
 
               And trembling, pale, I long 
                   Gazed into my own breast; 
               By no uplifiting song 
                   Was my affliction blessed. 
 
               My songs were flown, alack; 
                   The sweetest Art was gone -- 
               No God would give it back  
                   Nor Grace of Deathless One. 
 
               The Fortress had sunk down 
                   That once so bold did stand; 
               The fiery glow was drowned, 
                   Void was the bosom's land. 
 
               Then shone your radiance, 
                   The purest light of soul, 
               Where in a changing dance 
                   Round Earth the Heavens roll. 
 
               Then was I captive bound, 
                   Then was my vision clear, 
               For I had truly found 
                   What my dark strivings were. 
 
               Soul rang more strong, more free, 
                   Out of the deep-stirred breast 
               In triumph heavenly, 
                   And in sheer happiness. 
 
               My spirits then and there 
                   Soared, jubilant and gay, 
               And, like a sorcerer, 
                   Their courses did I sway. 
 
               I left the waves that rush, 
                   The floods that change and flow, 
               On the high cliff to crash, 
                   But saved the inner glow. 
            
               And what my Soul, Fate-driven 
                   Never in flight o'ertook, 
               That to my heart was given, 
                   Was granted by your look. 
            
                                  (written between November 1836  
                                              and February 1837)